Hey! I’m Jess!

Just a 30-something, trying to make the best out of life. I lead a busy life so in my downtime I binge tv, watch movies, read books, or hang out with friends! For more on the history of me and this blog, check out my “About Jess” page!

Currently Reading

Search this Blog

Never Miss A Post!

Signup now and receive an email once I publish new content.

I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Review: Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Soon after I started this book I realized it was going to be a sort of full circle story for Willem. I must admit I had some expectations for this book. I thought it would go a little more like Where She Went, buuuuut it didn’t. It’s a really confusing feeling to expect something from a story, yet feeling this rightness at how it is actually told. I feel melancholy for what I wanted to happen and didn’t, but not so that it took away from how much I loved it.

Just One Year takes Willem and us on a globe-trotting journey of self-discovery, much like Allyson’s. Willem’s journey is just as emotional and freeing, just with more people and places around the world. But it was the parallel of their stories that really made my heart race. The times where they were so close, yet not close enough! DAMN. We get to know about Willem’s parents and their story, which turned out to be a bit of a full circle for him.

It’s incredible to me how much a person can learn, grow, and change in a year. Willem had a lot of healing to do. His encounter with Allyson derailed his original plans, but it also made him stop running. And with him no longer running, he was able to realize how much he was hurting and how much he needed his family, especially his mother. The evolution of their relationship really made my heart hurt for both of them, but it also made my heart soar by the end.

*This paragraph may be spoilery to some, so feel free to skip over it.* I loved that Willem never gives up on finding Allyson, even when he gets discouraged, he doesn’t completely stop. And he ALWAYS thinks of her, always wants her there. I will admit that seeing him with other girls stung a little, in fact, I hated it, but I understood it and it never changed his feelings for Allyson, which then made me feel bad for the girls, lol. So many conflicting emotions because of this book!

Gayle Forman has given us such a unique pair of books. I loved this. I loved how parallel they were. The ending of Just One Year is perfect. It’s not typical, but perfect for this story, for its readers. But now what do we do?! When will we get our next Gayle Forman fix?! I really hope it’s soon because I need more of her books in my life.

The heartrending conclusion—from Willem’s POV—to the romantic duet of novels that began with Allyson’s story in Just One Day.

After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem’s story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson’s own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

Giveaway

About Gayle Forman

My name is Gayle Forman and I love to write young-adult novels. Because I do. So thank you for reading them. Because without you, it’d just be me. And the voices in my head.

Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in such publications as Jane, Seventeen, Glamour, Elle, and The New York Times Magazine, to name just a few. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Like this:

7 Responses to “Review: Just One Year by Gayle Forman”

Beautiful review, Jess! You captured my same feelings about it, too. It does have a bittersweet ending, but yet still leaves you full — does that make sense? I really gravitated towards Willem’s story. It’s always those beautifully broken boys that get me. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Awesome review! I can’t wait to read Just One Year, getting to know Willem and his story, and find out what happens after that ending in Just One Day. I love Gayle Forman’s books, and every one of them always leaves a huge impression on me, and I’m sure JOY will too.

Guest Bloggers

Categories

Categories

Grab a button!

FTC Disclosures

Some of the links in the posts above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Also, some books reviewed on Gone with the Words we received for free in the hope that we would mention them here on the blog and will be stated in Source area.